HA notice for £38m job

The Highways Agency has issued a pre-information notice for the early design and build A419 Blunsdon bypass and Commonhead junction improvement in Wiltshire, worth a potential £38.5m.

The £23.5m Blunsdon bypass includes the design and construction of a 3.5km two-lane dual carriageway and two grade-separated junctions, one of which is to grade separate an existing at grade junction, Turnpike Roundabout.

The scope of the work includes design development, presenting the scheme through the statutory processes, completion of the detailed design, construction and maintenance of the works.

The £15m Commonhead junction improvement scheme is not yet in the roads programme. However, if a scheme emerges from the planning process for the improvement of the roundabout then it may be included in the contract. The scheme is to grade separate the existing A419/A4259 junction to the south east of Swindon. The aim is to build it within the existing highway boundary.

Work on the contract is expected to commence in summer 2003, with construction currently expected to start in 2005 for Commonhead and 2006 for the bypass.

The full OJEC notice is due to be issued this week.